Jeff Ricker wrote:
> In responses to my posts in this thread, it seems that some
> have obtained the impression that, because some students believe that
> general-studies courses are irrelevant to their future careers, that
perhaps these
> courses should be eliminated.
In order to head off students' beliefs that general-studies courses are
irrelevant (to their lives/careers etc.), we have formed two groups
responsible for clarifying the expected outcomes of two non-major parts of
the curriculum. I am on a group writing "liberal arts outcomes" designed to
help students understand the "value-added" of a liberal arts degree at
Alverno), and there is also a group writing "general education outcomes". In
a couple of years I expect to know more about how effective writing and
publicizing these outcomes has been in helping students understand the
non-major parts of their educations.
Paul Smith
Alverno College
Milwaukee
